MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA — APRIL 16: David Armitage of the Saints suffers from cramp during the round four AFL match between the Collingwood Magpies and the St Kilda Saints at Etihad Stadium on April 16, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images)Source:Getty Images

ST KILDA will be without David Armitage for an “extended” period and the key midfielder could even be facing surgery, according to coach Alan Richardson.

Armitage, 28, has been battling a groin issue and has been left out of the Saints’ side that will face Geelong on Sunday.

Richardson said that while the pair is delivering “good footy”, there is still some water to go under the bridge.

“We have discussions about our players all the time, at the right time,” he said.

“(Chief operating officer) Ameet Bains and (recruiting boss) Tony Elshaug and that team will sit down with the respective managers, but all I can talk about is their footy and two boys who are playing good footy.

“It’s only early and we’ve still got a bit of work to go before we can really sit down and have those sort of conversations going forward. They’re playing well.”